A worship leader formerly associated with Answers in Genesis has been convicted of 28 counts of sexual abuse and one count of sodomy. Michael Howard has received a sentence of 15 years in prison and will be required to register as a sex offender.
Editor’s note: This article refers to reports of child sex crimes that some readers might find triggering and/or disturbing.
The victim was 14 years old at the time of the abuse.
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Michael Howard, 37, had been part of TrueSong, a worship music group that served as the “resident artist band” at Answers in Genesis’ Ark Encounter in Williamstown, Kentucky, and its Creation Museum in Petersburg, Kentucky.
Answers in Genesis, founded by apologist Ken Ham, provides Christians with resources to defend a literal reading of the creation account found in Genesis and the belief that the earth is roughly 6,000 years old.
In a statement to ChurchLeaders, Answers in Genesis said, “While the ministry does not generally comment on personnel matters, we can confirm that Michael Howard is no longer affiliated with Answers in Genesis. In fact, his departure occurred before we became aware of the investigation against him.”
“To respect the privacy of those involved and because this is a matter currently under investigation, we are not in a position to comment further, other than to ask for prayers for all the individuals involved, especially the possible victims,” the statement added.
According to a now-scrubbed biographical profile on the Ark Encounter’s website, Howard has two daughters and had also been a worship leader at Florence Baptist Temple in Burlington, Kentucky.
Howard was arrested in January 2025 and charged with with 40 counts of first-degree sexual abuse and 40 counts of third-degree sodomy. The charges were later reduced as part of a plea deal.
Howard’s arrest came after Timmy Goodman came forward to accuse him of abuse. Goodman alleged that the abuse began in 2019 after Goodman began working for Howard at a furniture store.
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The two first met at a church, and Goodman’s family members said that they considered Howard a close personal friend. According to prosecutors, the sexual abuse occurred over the span of several years.
